Apparatus for applying pressure to shoe bottoms



APPARATUS oa APPLYING PRESSURE To sHoE BoTToMs l July 14, 1942. F. v. HART Fied Nv. l2, 1940 4 ShreebS-Sheet 1 NVE/vm@ @M w F. v. HART 2,289,360

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTMS July 14, 194.2.

Filed Nov. l2, 1940 4 Shee'bS-Shee'. 2

|||| Ill July 14, 1942. 2,289,360

G PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS E. v. HART APPARATUS Fon APPLYIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. l2, 1940- July 14, 1942.

F. v. HART 2,289,360

APPARATUS FOR APPLY'ING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 14, 1942 APPARATUS FOR, APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Fred V. Hart, Lynn, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J.

a corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,157

27 claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms and is illustrated herein with reference to its utility in connection with sole laying, sole leveling or cement sole attaching operations.

In the operations referred to it is desirable to have the surface of the pad which applies pressure to the shoe conform as closely as possible to the shape of the shoe bottom before any substantial pressure is applied. Moreover, it is likewise desirable to be able to control the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom, for example, to the forepart and the shank and heel portions thereof or around the marginal portion of the shoe bottom. Heretofore it has been difficult to conform the pad readily to the shape of the shoe bottom or to control the pressure applied to different portions thereof because the means or mechanisms which supported the pad were not capable of movement in a manner which produced these results. Accordingly, reliance was placed primarily on the deformation of a relatively thick, flexible pad by pressure of the shoe which was inadequate to produce satisfactory resuits.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type referred to which will be more universal in its action so that the pressure applying pad will conform readily to the shoe bottom regardless of its shape and before any substantial pressure is applied, and which will enable the pressure applied by the padto be varied and controlled in accordance with the particular requirements of the shoe being operated upon. K

To this end the invention provides, in accord- -ance with one feature, an improved apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms and having a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, different portions of the pad being received by separate members which are supported by means constructed and` arranged to permit rocking movement of the separate members lengthwise and widthwise of the pad upon its engagement with the bottom of the shoe, thereby causing the pad to engage the entire shoe bottom and conform itself thereto before any substantial pressure has been applied, and also permitting the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom to be varied and controlled in accordance with the shape of the shoe being operated upon or the particular requirements of such shoe.

As illustrated, the separate members for receiving the pad are arranged to rock lengthwise of thereof and adjustable into different lengthwise positions to vary the rocking movement of said members and thereby facilitate the conformation of the pad to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom as well as to permit the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom to be controlled through the varied rocking movement of said members.

The means provided for permitting rocking movement of the separate members widthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe comprises, as herein illustrated, fulcrums about which these members can rock widthwise, these fulcrums ex- Y tending lengthwise of the pad and being adjustable laterally about pivots located adjacent to the central portion of the pad or, more specifically, adjacent to the ball line of a shoe mounted on the pad. These fulcrums are arranged to be swung about their pivots widthwise of the pad and secured in adjusted position in accordance with the shape or requirements of the particular shoe being operated upon, and through this adjustment, the rocking movement of the separate members widthwise of the pad may be varied as appears desirable for the shoe, thereby causing the pad to conform readily to the transverse angles of different portions of the shoe bottom, for example, the forepart and the shank and heel portions, and also permitting the pressure applied to the different portions of the shoe bottom to be varied and controlled in accordance with the shape of the bottom of the shoe being operated upon or the particular requirements of such shoe.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, improved means is provided for further controlling the shape of the shoe engaging surface of the pad when it engages the shoe bottom, this means, as herein illustrated, comprising removable members or inserts arranged to be interposed between the pad and the pad receiving members and having pad engaging surfaces that conform substantially to the shape of the portions of the shoe bottom opposite which the inserts are located when the pad. is engaging the shoe bottom.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pressure applying apparatus operating upon a shoe, parts of the the pad about fulcrums extending widthwise apparatus being broken away and in section; Y

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus, as viewed from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of mechanism underlying and supporting a pad in the apparatus; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views on a reduced scale illustrating different adjustments of the pad supporting mechanism.

The illustrated apparatus for applying pressure to shoe bottoms is shown herein by way of example in connection with a sole laying machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,549,243, granted August 1l, 1925, on an application filed in the name of Erastus E. Winkley, but it should be understood that t-he apparatus is not limited in its use to such machines as distinguished from sole leveling or cement sole attaching machines.

The apparatus comprises amain frame or carrier I0 provided with trunnions l2 whereby it may be pivoted `for swinging movement in a sliding iframe I4 of the sole laying machine which, in turn, is mounted on vertical rods I6 for sliding movement toward and away from a jack secured to the upper ends of the rods and provided with longitudinally adjustable shoe supports consisting of a last pin I6 and a toe engaging abutment or roll 23. The swinging carrier l0 is provided with a longitudinal guideway 22 (Fig. 2) in which is mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the carrier a pair of abutments 24, 26 having upwardly projecting ears in which are mounted respectively transverse .pins 28 and 30 carrying a plurality of rolls 32 yand 34. The opposite ends of the carrier l0 are provided with upstanding bosses 35, 33 having centrally located slots in which are mounted horizontal screws 40, 42 threaded respectively into the CTI abutments 24, 26 and provided with nurled heads 44, 43 whereby they may be manually -rotated to adjust the abutments lengthwise of the carrier member, the screws being held against lengthwise movement by collars 39, 4I formed thereon and arranged to engage the bosses opposite the surfaces engaged by the nurled heads of the screws.

The rolls 32 and 34 serve as fulcrums which support a pair of rocking members or plates 48 and 56 having upstanding walls at their opposite sides. The opposite side walls of the :plate 48 are provided with laterally extending lugs 52 which form segments of somewhat less than a semi-circle and the opposite walls of the p-late 56 are provided with similar lugs 54. The lugs 52 land 54 at the opposite sides of the plates 48, 53 extend into vertical guideways 56 lformed in the opposite side walls of the carrier member i3, these guideways being closed at the top by cover plates 53 secured in position by screws. The plates 48, 56 are thus arranged for rocking movement relatively to each other lengthwise about the transverse fulcrums provided by the rolls 32, 34, and the inner or adjacent ends of these members are caused by the segment and slot construction to move heightwise in a vertical plane so thatY the members in effect swing about a horizontal axis when they rock around the fulcrums 32, 34, this axis, however, being a floating one which is normally in the same position for both members .but which, under certain conditions, lcan separate into two axes in the same vertical :pl-ane, thereby allowing the plates 48 and to be rocked if necessary into considerably different :angular positions from each other lengthwise of the carrier, these positions depending upon the lengthwise positions of the abutments 24, 2S, the shape of the shoe being operated upon and the position of the shoe longitudinally of the apparatus. The transverse axis formed by the segments 52, 54 is located as close Ias possible to the center of the ball line of a shoe mounted on the jack of the machine so that the rocking .plates 48, 50 actually swing about axes located at that point, these axes, as stated, usually coinciding but under some conditions separating slightly to vary the rocking movement of the plates about the lfulcrums or rolls 32, 34.

The plates 48 and 50 support separate members 60, 62 which are arranged to receive a pad 64 which engages and applies pressure to the bottom of the shoe, this pad being herein disclosed as comprising a fiexible blanket having a top layer of leather or similar material 66 and a lower layer of `rubber 63, these layers being secured together in the separate members 63, 62 by spring .clips T0 of any usual construction adjustably mounted at opposite ends of these members by slot and screw arrangements 72. The transverse axes formed by the segments 52, 54 are preferably located heightwise as 4close as possible to the plane of the surface of the pad 64.

Removably mounted in each of the separate members 66 and 62, respectively, and underlying the pad 64, is an insert T4 and 16 preferably comprising a substantially flat block of metal or other non-yieldable material and having an upper surface which conforms substantially to the shape of the portion of the shoe bottom which it underlies when the pad is engaging the shoe bottom, the insert 'I4 conforming substantially to the bottom of the forepart of a shoe S and the other insert 13 (Fig. 2) conforming to the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom. The inserts '14, 'I6 are held in position in the separate members 68, 62 .by spring clips 'i3 and (Figs. 2 `and 3) which prevent the inserts Ifrom moving lengthwise in the members 68, 62. These removable inserts operate to control the shape of the upper or shoe engaging surface of the pad and of course they may be `changed for shoes of different shapes or sizes. The pad receiving members 63, 62 are retained in the plates 48 and 50 by spring clamps 82 and 84 secured by screws to the opposite side walls of the plates and extending inwardly between upstanding ears on the members 66, 62.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the mechanism which is provided for supporting the pad and the pad receiving members 66, 62 is constructed and arranged to permit rocking movement of these members lengthwise of the pad to permit the latter to conform closely to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom under pressure of the shoe when the pressure applying apparatus is moved upwardly by the machine into engagement with the shoe bottom. The arrangement is such, moreover, that the pressure applied longitudinally of the shoe bottom by the pad can be varied or controlled for different portions of the shoe bottom by adjusting the abutments 24, 26 lengthwise of the pad to change the positions of the fulcrums 32, 34. If it is desired, for example, to apply relatively heavy pressure to the toe portion of the shoe S, the fulcrum 32 may be adjusted toward the toe end of the shoe by its screw 40 so that when the shoe engages the pad the rocking movement of the plate 48 will be such as to cause the pad to apply the heavier pressure `at the toe end of the shoe bottom and lighter pressure rearwardly or toward the ball portion thereof. Similarly, the abutment 26 may be adjusted lengthwise to cause the pad to apply substantially the desired pressures to different parts of the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom so that the heaviest pressure may be applied at whatever location desired, or so that substantially equal pressure may be applied to the entire shank and heel portion. In other words, the construction permits the pressure applied lengthwise of the shoe bottom to be varied and controlled by the operator who determines the pressure in accordance with the shape of the shoe bottom or the particular requirements of the shoe being operated upon.

It is desirable in the present apparatus to permit the pad to conform readily to the transverse angles of different portions of the shoe bottom as well as to the longitudinal contour thereof, and also to permit the pressure applied to be controlled wdthwise of the shoe bottom as well as lengthwise. Such a construction permits the pad to adjust itself automatically to the transverse angles of the forepart and rear portions of the shoe bottom upon engagement of the pad with the shoe and before any substantial pressure has been applied, and it also allows the `operator to cause the apparatus to apply substantially equal pressure to the opposite marginal portions of the forepart and rear portions of the shoe bottom or, if he so desires, tovary or control this pressure as seems desirable for the particular shoe being operated upon.

To this end means is provided to permit the pad receiving members 60, 62 to rock widthwise in the plates 48 and 50 under pressure of the shoe, this means comprising a pair of so-called tipping blocks 86, 88 mounted respectively on the plates 48 and 50 and being interposed between these plates and the pad receiving member 60, 62. These tipping blocks extend lengthwise of the rocking plates and the block 86 is pivoted to the plate 48 by a pin 90 (Figs- 1 and 4) located at the inner end of that plate or adjacent to the plate 50, and the tipping block 88 is similarly pivoted at its inner end to the plate 50 by a pin 92. These pivots permit the tipping blocks to be swung laterally of the plates 48, 50 into different angular positions relatively to the bottom of the shoe and, in order to maintain the tipping blocks in different adjusted positions laterally of the shoe bottom, the outer ends of the tipping blocks 86, 88 are provided respectively with screws 94 and 96 which extend downwardly through curved slots 98, (Fig. 4) formed respectively in the plates 48, 50, these slots being struck from the centers of the pivots 90, 92. The screws 94, 96 are provided on their lower ends with wing nuts |02, |04 whereby the tipping blocks may be secured in adjusted positions laterally of the rocking plates.

The upper sides of the tipping blocks 88, 88 have slots formed therein which extend lengthwise of the blocks and the lower surfaces of which incline downwardly from opposite sides to form V`shaped grooves |06, |08 (Figs. 2 and 4) in which are mounted respectively rolls H0, ||2. The rolls I0, I2 are held against longitudinal movement in these grooves by angle plates ||4 secured by screws to the opposite ends of the tipping blocks, and it will be seen that the rolls can assume different lateral positions in the grooves |06, |08 but that their normal tendency will be to remain at the lowest portions of the shoe and at its shank and heel portions.

grooves. The rolls H0, l| 2 engage and support the pad receiving members 60, 62 and provide adjustable fulcrums about which these members can rock widthwise of the pad, thereby permitting the pad to conform readily to the transverse angles of different portions of the shoe bottom, for example, theforepart and the shank and heel portions thereof, and also providing means whereby, through the rocking movement referred to, the pad can be caused to apply different pressures to different portions of the shoe bottom widthwise of the'shoe or pressure that may be controlled by the operator to obtain the best results for the operation being performed, whether it be sole laying, cement sole attaching or sole leveling. In other words, the construction is such that the operator can control the action of the pad under pressure of the shoe first, to cause the pad to conform readily to the transverse angles of the forepart and rear portions of the shoe bottom, and thereafter to apply substantially the desired pressure to different portions of the shoe bottom, considered widthwise, in accordance with the shape of the shoe bottom or the particular type of shoe being operated upon. For a better understanding of how this is accomplished reference may now be had to Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive.

The shoe S is provided with an outsole T the shape of which is shown in plan in Figs. 3 and 4. In the present case it may be desirable, for example, to apply substantially equal pressure around the entire marginal portion of the outsole T to cement attach the outsole to the shoe bottom, or to perform a sole laying or a sole leveling operation on the shoe. Accordingly, the operator swings the tipping blocks 86 and 88 until, in his judgment, the fulcrums I0, ||2 will cause a rocking movement of the pad receiving members 60, 62 that will produce substantially equal pressure at the opposite marginal portions of the shoe bottom both at the forepart of the As shown in Fig. 4, the tipping block 88 at the forepart of the shoe has been swung to the right about its pivot 90, and the tipping block 88 at the rear portion of the shoe has likewise been 'swung somewhat to the right about its pivot 92.

The amount the tipping blocks and fulcrums l0, l2 are swung laterally of the pad about their pivots depends upon the shape of the shoe bottom and, as stated, upon the amounts of pressure it is desired to apply to different portions of the shoe bottom.

In Fig. 5 is shown diagrammatically an outsole T' that is somewhat different in shape from the outsole T, the forepart of this outsole T' being positioned at a substantial angle to its shank and heel portions. The point A represents the center of the ball line of the outsole which, as explained above, lies in the vertical plane of the axes about which the forward and rear portions of the apparatus swing longitudinally. The points 90 and 92 represent the pivots about which the tipping blocks and fulcrums ||0, ||2 are swung and the line ||6 represents the longitudinal median line of the forepart of the outsole. Line ||8 represents the longitudinal median line of the rear portion of the outsole from the center of the ball line to the heel end. In Fig. 5 it is desired to apply substantially equal pressure to the entire marginal portion of the outsole T' and accordingly the operator has swung the fulcrum H0',

which represents the roll H0, into a position which, in his judgment, will approximately secure that result. It will be observed that the operator does not necessarily swing the fulcrum I I until it coincides with the longitudinal median Vline IIG of the forepart of the outsole but, in the present case, has swung it somewhat to the right of that line to get the pressure desired.

The fulcrum IIIJ is located in the position shown in Fig. because it has been found in practice that substantially equal pressure is obtained around the marginal portion of the shoe bottom being operated upon when the total leverages at opposite sides of the fulcrum are substantially equal. In other words, while the lever, ages Widthwise of the shoe bottom at any given' point may not be equal at opposite sides of the fulcrum about which the pad rocks, nevertheless, if the total leverages or the average leverages at opposite sides of the fulcrum are substantially equal, equal pressure within reasonable limits will be applied to the opposite marginal portions of the part of the shoe bottom being operated upon. Consequently, the fulcrum I I0 at the forepart of the outsole T' need not necessarily coincide with the longitudinal center line IIB of the forepart but should be positioned laterally at an angle which will make the total of the leverages on opposite sides of the fulcrum substantially equal. The same principle applies at the shank and heel Vportion of the shoe bottom and, accordingly, as illustrated, the fulcrum or roll II2' is shown located somewhat to the right of the longitudinal median line |I8 of the rear portion of the outsole to obtain substantially equal pressure around the marginal portion of the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom.

Fig. 6 illustrates the condition which might exist when it is desired to apply unequal pressures at opposite sides of the shoe bottom, for example, a substantially heavy pressure to the left-hand margin of the forepart of the outsole T and a correspondingly heavy pressure to the right-hand margin of the rear or shank and heel portions of the outsole. In Fig. 6, therefore, the fulcrum IID has been swung some distance to the left of the longitudinal median line I I6 at the forepart, and the fulcrum II2 at the rear portion has been swung to the right of the longitudinal median line IIB. The total leverage, therefore, at the right of the fulcrum I I0 at the forepart of the outsole T' is considerably greater than the total leverage at the left of said fulcrum and, accordingly, the pressure applied around the left marginal portion of the forepart will be substantially greater than that applied around the right margin thereof. Similarly, the. total leverage at the left of the fulcrum II2 at the rear portion of the outsole is somewhat greater than the total leverage at the right of the fulcrum so that the heavy pressurewill be applied around the right margin of the shank and heel portions of the outsole while lighter pressure will be applied around the left margin thereof. While these adjustments cannot be exact because they are left to the judgment of the operator, it has been found in practice that fairly accurate results can be obtained in distributing the pressure in the manner desired by controlling the widthwise rocking movement of the pad by lateral adjustment of the fulcrums as described above.

In the use of the apparatus, the shoe S is mounted on the jack and, before the power of the machine is turned on, the operator adjusts transverse rolls or fulcrums 32, 34 in approximately the proper positions lengthwise of the pad to give the desired results, these positions, of course, being governed by the shape of the shoe bottom andthe operation being performed. As shown in Fig. l, the transverse abutments 32, 34 are located in positions that would cause the pad to apply substantially uniform pressure longitudinally over the forepart and the shank and heel portions of the shoe bottom. The operator then swings the tipping blocks 86 and 88 laterally into the positions desired and clamps them there by the wing nuts |02, |04. As stated, the

A'longitudinal fulcrums HIJ, II2 shown in Fig. 4,

have been swung into positions which would cause the pad receiving members to rock transversely in a manner to apply substantially equal pressure to the opposite marginal portions of the forepart and rear portions of the shoe bottom.

The power of the Vmachine is turned on and the apparatus is moved upwardly to bring the pad 64 into engagement with the shoe bottom at which time the pressure of the shoe against the pad will rock the forepart and rear sections of the apparatus lengthwise to conform the pad quickly to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom. Simultaneously, the pressure of the shoe against the pad causes the members 60 and 62 to rock widthwise about the fulcrums IIB, II2 to position the forward and rear portions of the pad in accordance with the transverse angles of these portions of the shoe bottom, thereby bringing the surface of the pad into engagement with the entire shoe bottom. Increased pressure of the pad against the shoe will continue the lengthwise and widthwise rocking movements of the forward and rear portions of the apparatus and the supporting members therein so that the leverages produced by the increased pressure against the shoe causes the desired pressure vto be applied to the different portions of the shoe bottom, whether this pressure be equal around the entire marginal portions of the shoe bottom or unequal at different portions thereof. After the necessary interval has elapsed for sole laying or leveling, or for cement attaching the outsole to the shoe bottom, the apparatus descends and the shoe may be removed from the machine.

Since the apparatus is arranged to pivot as a unit about the trunnions I2, it is desirable to prevent it from swinging loosely about its pivots when a shoe is not under pressure in the machine. For this purpose a plate |20 (Fig. 3) is slidably arranged on screws |22 mounted in the rear wall of the carrier l0 and this plate is normally forced outwardly away from the carrier to bear yieldingly against the sliding frame I4 by a pair of compression springs |24 seated in openings formed in the rear wall of the carrier. It is also desirable to prevent the forward and rear sections 48, 5S of the apparatus from dropping back of their own weight into substantially horizontal positions each time the pressure is removed from the pad. For this purpose, there is provided at the forward end of the carrier I0 a pair of upstanding leaf springs |26 (Figs. 1 and 3), which bear against the opposite sides of the plate 43 with sufficient friction to hold it in substantially the position into which it has been rocked by the shoe previously operated upon. Likewise there is provided at the rear end of the apparatus another pair of leaf springs |28 which `frictionallyengage the plate 50 and hold it against rocking movement after each shoe has been operated upon, the friction created by both sets of leaf springs, however, being insufficient to interfere with the rocking movement of the forepart and rear portions of the apparatus when it is operating upon a shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive said pad, and means for supporting said members while permitting rocking movement of each of said members lengthwise and widthwise of the pad upon its engagement with the shoe bottom, thereby causing the pad to engage the entire shoe bottom, said means being also arranged to control the pressure applied to diiierent portions of the shoe bottom by varying the lengthwise and widthwise rocking movement of said separate members.

2. An apparatus for use in applying pressure t shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive said pad, and means for supporting said separate members arranged to permit rocking movement thereof relatively to the shoe bottom, said means providing fulcrums about which each of said members can rock lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe bottom under pressure of the shoe, said fulcrums being adjustable to vary the lengthwise and widthwise rocking movement of said members and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad to different portions of the shoe bottom.

3. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging ay -cordance with the shape of said shoe bottom.

4. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom and applying pressure thereto, separate members arranged to receive the pad, and means for supporting each of said separate members for rocking movement about adjustable axes extending widthwise and lengthwise of the pad, thereby permitting said pad to conform, to the shape of the shoe bottom upon engagement therewith, said supporting means being also arranged to cause the pad to apply pressure to different porti-ons of the shoe bottom which is controlled by the shape of said shoe bottom and the adjusted positions of the axes about which said separate members rock.

5. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive said pad, a fulcrum about which each of said members can rock lengthwise of the pad, and another fulcrum about which each of said members can rock widthwise of the pad, said fulcrums being adjustable relatively to the shoe bottom to vary the lengthwise and widthwise rocking movement of said separate members and thereby control the pressure which is applied by the pad to diii'erent portions of the shoe bottom in laccordance with the shape of the shoe bottom.

6. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive different portions of the pad, means for supporting said members arranged to permit rocking movement of each of said members lengthwise and widthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe, said means including a plurality of fulcrums about which each of said separate members can rock, and means for adjusting said fulcrurns relatively to the shoe bottom to control the pressure applied by the pad to different portions of the shoe bottom in accordance with the f shape of said shoe bottom.

7. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a. pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the pad and hold it in operative position, means for supporting each of said members arranged to permit swinging movement thereof lengthwise and widthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe against the pad, said means including an axis extending widthwise of the pad about which said members swing lengthwise of the pad, and separate fulcrums for each of said members extending lengthwise of the pad about which said members swing widthwise of the pad.

8. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the pad and hold it in shoe engaging position, means for supporting each of said members for rocking movement lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe bottom, said means including transverse axes about which the supporting means swing, mechanism for adjusting said axes relatively to the shoe to vary the pressure applied longitudinally of the shoe bottom, separate fulcrums extending lengthwise of the shoe about which each 'of said separate members rocks, and means for adjusting said fulcrums laterally of the shoe to vary the pressure applied widthwise of the shoe bottom.

9. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad having a surface for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive different portions of the pad, means for supporting said members for lengthwise swinging movement under pressure of the shoe about transverse axes located substantially in the plane of th'e surface of the pad, and means for adjusting saidaxes to vary the swinging movement of said members and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad longitudinally of the shoe bottom.

10. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad having a surface for engaging and applying pressure to a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the forepart and rear portions of the pad, means arranged to support said members for swinging movement lengthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe about transverse axes located at the ball line of the shoe and substantially in the plane of the surface of the pad, and

, means for adjusting said axes to vary the lengthwise swinging movement of said separate members and thereby control the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom lengthwise of the shoe.

11. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging Aa shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the forepart and rear portions of the pad,

means for supporting said members arranged to permit swinging movement thereof Ylengthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe, mechanism for controllingI said swinging movement, thereby determining the pressure applied by the pad lengthwise of the shoe bottom, and means for permitting said. separate members to rock widthwise' of the Yshoe bottom under pressure of' the shoe, said means includingV fulcrums adjustable laterally relatively to the shoe bottom, thereby controllingthe pressure applied widthwise of the shoe bottom.

12'.Y An apparatus for use' in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad having a surface for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receivingthe pad located under the forep'art and rear portions of the shoe bottom, means for supporting each of said members arranged to permit swinging movement thereof. lengthwise of the shoe bottomunder pressure of the shoe, said means' comprising`transverse axes located between said separate members and substantially in the plane of the surface of the pad' about which' said members swing, an abutment extending widthwiseof the pad for supporting. each of said members, and separate means for adjusting said abutments lengthwise of the pad. to change the position of said transverse axes and vary the swinging movement 'of said members, thereby control'ling'the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom lengthwise ofi the shoe.

13.' `An apparatus for use in applying pressure tosho'e bottoms comprising a pad` for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the forepart and rear portions of the pad,

means for'supportingsaid members arranged to permit swingingV movement thereof lengthwise of the pad about transverse axes located at the ball line of thesh'oe and substantially Yin theY plane of the'surface of the pad, mechanism for varying the swinging Ymovement of said separate members including abutments adjustable lengthwise of the pad, thereby controlling the pressure applied to the shoe bottom lengthwise of the shoe, means carried by said supporting means constructed and arranged to permit rocking movement of said separate members widthwise of the pad, said means including fulcrums extending lengthwise of the pad and arranged to be swung laterally about pivots located at the ends of said fulcrums adjacent to each other, and means for securing saidV fulcrums in diiferent lateral positionsv to vary thev widthwise rocking movement of said separate members in accordance with the shape of the shoe bottom and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad widthwise of said shoe bottom.

14. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom and applying pressure thereto, separate members arranged to receive the forepart and rearportions of the pad, means for supporting said members arranged to permit rocking movement thereof lengthwise and widthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe, said means including an abutment foreach of said members extending lengthwise ofthe pad and pivoted for swinging movement laterally of the pad at the endrof theV abutment adjacent to the central portion ofthe pad, said abutments providing fulcrums about which said separate members can rock widthwise, means for locating said'abutments in different lateral positions about their pivots to vary thewidthwise swinging movement of said separate members and thereby controlthe pressure applied by the pad widthwise of the shoeA bottom, said means including slots in said supporting means, screws carried by said abutments and extending through said slots, and means on said screws for clamping the abutments against said supporting means.

l5. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a flexible pad for engaging a shoe bottom and applying pressure thereto, separate members arranged to receive the forward and rear portions of the pad, supporting plates carrying said members and arranged for longitudinal swinging movement under pressure of the shoe about oating axes located centrally of the pad and extending widthwise thereof, an abutment for maintaining each of the supporting plates in operative position, said abutments extending transversely of the pad and providing fulcrums about which the supporting plates can rock lengthwise, means individual to each abutment for adjusting it longitudinally of the pad to vary the position of the floating axis and change the angular position into which the supporting plate can rock lengthwise relatively to the shoe bottom, thereby controlling the pressure applied by the pad lengthwise to different portions of the shoe bottom in accordance with the longitudinal contour of said shoe bottoms means interposed between said separate members and the supporting plates arranged to permit said members to rock widthwise of the pad under pressure of the shoe, said means comprising a roll for each separate member extending lengthwise of the pad and pivoted adjacent to the central portion of the pad, said rolls permitting said pad to conform under pressure to the transverse angles of the forepart and rear portions of the shoe bottom, and means for permitting said rolls to be swung about their respective pivots into different lateral positions relativelyto the shoe bottom to change the leverage of the widthwise rocking movement of said separate members and thereby control the pressure appliedv by the pad widthwise of the shoe in accordance with the shape of the shoe bottom.

16. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive different portions of the pad, means for holding the pad on said separate members and means interposed between the pad and said separate members arranged to control the shape of the surface of the pad when it engages the shoe bottom, said means being adapted to be removed at will and changed for shoes of dilerent shapes without interfering with the pad holding means.

17. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a flexible pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive different portions of the pad, and inserts interposed between the pad and said separate members but not fastened thereto for controlling the shape of the shoe engaging surface of the pad, said inserts having pad engaging surfaces thereon that conform substantially to the shape of the portions of the shoe bottom opposite which said inserts are located when the pad is engaging the shoe bottom and being adapted to be readily removed and changed to permit operating upon different shaped shoes.

18. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a flexible pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive the forepart and the shank and heel portions of the pad, a removable insert interposed between the pad and each separate member for controlling the shape of the shoe engaging surface of the pad, said inserts comprising substantially flat non-yieldable blocks having surfaces thereon for engaging the pad which are shaped to conform substantially to the portions of the shoe bottom opposite which said inserts are located when the pad is engaging the shoe bottom, said inserts being unattached to said pad or said separate members to permit them to be removed at will and changed for different shaped inserts for shoes of different shapes, and means for holding said removable inserts in place between the pad and the separate members.

19. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members arranged to receive said pad, means for supporting said members for rocking movement lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby causing the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, means for permitting one of said separate members to rock Widthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, and means for adjusting said last-named means to vary the widthwise rocking movement of said separate member and thereby control the widthwise pressure applied by the portion of the pad received by said member.

20. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the forepart and rear portions of the pad, means for supporting said members for rocking movement lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe, thereby permitting the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, means for permitting the forepart receiving member to rock widthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with-the shoe bottom, thereby causing the forepart of the pad to conform to the transverse angle of the forepart to the shoe bottom, and means for adjusting said last-named means to vary the widthwise rocking movement of said forepart receiving member and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad widthwise of the forepart of the shoe bottom.

21. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, forward and rear members for re ceiving the forepart and the shank and heel engaging portions of the pad, means for supporting said members arranged to permit rocking movement thereof lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby permitting the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, means for adjusting said supporting means to vary the lengthwise rocking movement ofv said forward and rear members and' thereby control the pressure applied by the pad lengthwise of the shoe, and means for permitting the rear member to rock widthwise of the -pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby permitting the pad to conform to the transverse angle of the shank and heel portion of the shoe bottom.

22. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, forward and rear members for receiving respectively the forepart and the shank and heel engaging portions of the pad, means for supporting said members while permitting rocking movement of each member lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby permitting the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of said shoe bottom, means for permitting the rear member to rock widthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby permitting the shank and heel engaging portion of the pad to conform widthwise to the angle of the shank and heel portion of the shoe bottom, and means for adjusting said last-named means to vary the widthwise rocking movement of said rear member and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad widthwise of the shank and heel portion of the shoe bottom.

23. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad forengaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the pad, a fulcrum for each of said members about which it can rock heightwise and lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, and a transverse axis for each of said members relatively to which each member swings as it rocks about its fulcrum, said axes being arranged for movement heightwise only of the pad.

24. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the forward and rear portions of the pad, a fulcrum for each of said members about which it can rock heightwise and lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby causing the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, and a transverse axis for each of said members relatively to which each members swings as it rocks about its fulcrum, said axes being located in a single plane extending heightwise of the pad and being movable in said plane relatively to each other.

25. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the forward and rear portions of the pad, a fulcrum for each of said members extending widthwise of the pad about which each member can rock heightwise and lengthwise of the pad upon ensagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, thereby causing the pad to conform to the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, the rocking movement of said members being determined by said longitudinal contour, means for adjusting said fulcrums to control the pressure applied to different portions of the shoe bottom lengthwise thereof, a transverse axis for each of said members relatively to which each member swings as it rocks about its fulcrum, sai-d axes being located in a single plane extending heightwise of the pad and being movable relatively to each other in said plane, and means for maintaining said axes in said plane.

26. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the forward and rear portions of the` pad, a fulcrum for each of said members about which it can rock lengthwise and heightwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, the rocking movement of said members being determined by the longitudinal contour of the shoe bottom, a transverse axis for each of said members relatively to which each member swings as it rocks about its fulcrum, said axes being located substantially in the plane of the surface of the pad and in a single plane extending heightwise of the pad at the ball line of the shoe, said axes normally coinciding but being arranged for heightwise movement relatively to each other in said single plane, and guiding means for maintaining said axes in said plane in Whatever heightwise position they occupy.

27. An apparatus for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad for engaging a shoe bottom, separate members for receiving the pad, a fulcrum for each of said members extending widthwise of the pad about which each member can rock lengthwise of the pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, a transverse axis for each of said members relatively to which each member swings as it rocks about its fulcrum, said axes being movable relatively to each other in a predetermined plane extending heightwise of the pad at the ball line of the shoe,

means for maintaining said axes in said plane,V

means for adjusting the Widthwise fulcrums for said members to vary the lengthwise rocking movement thereof and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad lengthwise of the shoe bottom, a fulcrum for each of said members eX- tending lengthwise of the pad about which each member can rock widthvvise of lthe pad upon engagement of the pad with the shoe bottom, pivots for said fulcrums adjacent to the ball line of the shoe, and means for adjusting said fulcrums laterally about their pivots to Vary the widthwise rocking movement of said members and thereby control the pressure applied by the pad width- Wise of the shoe bottom.

FRED V. HART. 

